May 1, 2020 was the anniversary of Chris and Rena Allin owning and operating Alpine Village Cabin Resort for 35 years.
This year, the Allins never would have guessed that they would have to delay opening their resort for a month due to a global pandemic.
Alpine Village was originally known as Kiefer's Kozy Kabins after the original owners, Curt and Mary Kiefer.
Alpine Village was then located on 11 acres of land on the highway (now 93A) beside the Athabasca River. The land was acquired in 1940 from the Department of Northern Affairs with the lease being $150 a year. Construction began in 1941 and, when the 25 cabins were open for business in 1946, it was run by Curt Kiefer's mother.
The Kiefer family, including two sons, Gary and Wayne, moved to Jasper permanently in 1948 and ran the renamed Alpine Village.
Over the years they added more cabins and the secondary lodge building, which allowed them to move their eight employees, whom they originally housed and fed in their own home, to staff accommodation.
In the early years Alpine Village included a barn and stable for horses. While the horses are long gone, the barn remains with the horses’ names still stencilled on their stalls.
The Kiefers ran Alpine Village until 1971 when they relocated to B.C. after Curt Kiefer’s death in 1968.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry D'Belle operated Alpine Village for two years and then ownership changed again with Lydia and Steve Stanko taking over in 1972, along with their sons Steve, Mike and Ron.
Previously, Lydia Stanko had managed the Diamond & Tonquin Motels. The Stankos updated many of the cabins, added new roofs, paved the walkways and put in a well.
The family lived year round at Alpine Village while Steve worked as a section man for CN.
The boys, who were teenagers at that point, remember occasionally catching a ride to school with their father in the morning but were often left to their own devices for transport.
They also remember chores involving the gas powered water pump housed at the edge of the Athabasca River and the infamous Wood Whomper- 2 fingers/minute used to keep the cabins supplied with firewood. The family enjoyed many sightings of coyotes, wolves and bears over the years.
The Stankos welcomed guests to Alpine Village for 14 years before retiring in 1986.
Chris and Rena took over Alpine Village in April, 1986, just a few days after getting married in Edmonton. Chris was a teacher and Rena a graphic designer for the Government of Alberta.
Lydia Stanko gave them the crash course on running Alpine Village their first summer, with only four employees.
Chris and Rena often said that they had no arguments their first year of marriage as they were too busy working and learning the hospitality business.
The Allins continued to renovate the existing cabins as well as complete construction of 30 new log cabins for a total of 56 over the years, all built to complement the original log cabin architecture and adding to the charm of Alpine Village.
Chris would envision and design all the new cabin styles and obtain Parks Canada approvals while Rena, with her design training, organized the interior finishing.
Chris acted as general contractor and they’ve used many local Jasper tradespeople, including locally raised Mark Deagle, who added his log home signature to the new log cabins plus the fireplaces were built by local stone masons, Tony Bruni Bossio and Trevor Schapansky. There are many construction details of Don Meggison and Dave Lawson Woodworking Ltd. throughout the resort.
Like all the past owners of the resort, the Allins truly enjoy the vast array of experiences while operating Alpine Village and have met many wonderful guests who return each year to stay at the popular Alpine Village. They’ve even stood up at many small wedding ceremonies that took place at the resort.
The Allin family consider their employees as part of the family and also have remained friends with many; following their careers, going to their weddings, etc.
Alpine Village has been featured in many magazine and online articles worldwide including Travel Alberta covers, log home books and a Tennessee advertising agency used one of the cabins to promote a whiskey company.
Though busy with the operation of Alpine Village, Chris and Rena have also enjoyed the mountain lifestyle of Jasper immensely.
They’ve been involved in the sport and cultural community as well as the Chamber of Commerce, with Chris being President in 1991 and 1992. Chris and Rena’s family grew with their three children; Cassi, born in 1991, Natalie in 1993 and Sean in 1995.
These were hectic years balancing Alpine Village guest and staff needs along with caring for three toddlers in the home that was attached to Alpine Village’s front office.
The Allin kids grew up building hidden forts, bear and elk sightings were common, they’d tag along with their favourite room cleaners and they could give the best advice and directions from the front desk at very early ages.
The Allin children enjoyed many happy hours in a tree house built by Chris and used for playing, wildlife watching and sleepovers. The three Allin kids were often picked up late from school as either Chris or Rena would get interrupted by guests or staff just before leaving for Jasper.
In their teen years, they’d complain about living so far out from Jasper, but now grown up and returning from university after working most summers at the resort, they really appreciate how lucky they were to grow up at Alpine Village.
Cassi has been in a management position at Alpine Village for five years, Sean has been working with Parks Canada/B.C. Parks around Jasper and Natalie helps with social media from her home in B.C.
Alpine Village has been a much loved property for over 70 years and a very special part of Jasper’s history.
Written with information from Jasper Reflections, Lydia Stanko and Rena Allin.
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